UK News

Devon father one step closer to completing world-first swim to raise awareness of son’s brain condition

A father from North Devon is set to complete the final six lakes in his bid to become the first person to swim Switzerland’s ten largest lakes after his young son was diagnosed with a rare brain-attacking condition PANDAS, that caused sudden onset aggression, OCD and tics overnight.

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Government announces changes to rail ticket prices

The Government will bring in new measures to cut the cost of rail travel for commuters.

The measures would limit the rail industry’s powers to increase rail fares as well as ensuring the sale of tickets was more flexible and more easily understood so that customers can get the best price.

The move comes from Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin’s Fares and Ticketing Review,...

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First Great Western

Patrick McLoughlin

Department for Transport

Shop prices fall despite continued rise in cost of food

Overall shop prices reported annual deflation for the fifth consecutive month in September, slowing to 0.2% from the 0.5% decline reported in August. Food inflation rose to 2.9% in September from 2.5% in August. Non-food products saw an annual deflation of 2.0% in September from 2.3% in August.

The figures have been revealed in the latest BRC-Nielsen Shop Price Index for September 2013...

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BBC to launch new digital media product, 'BBC Playlister'

The BBC today announced BBC Playlister, a new digital music product that will transform people’s relationship with music from the Corporation.

BBC Playlister will let audiences add and save their favourite tracks heard on the BBC to a personal online playlist, which they can then export to one of the BBC’s digital music partners where they can hear the music in full. Music fans will...

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Rise in numbers of civil partnerships

Figures released by the Office for National Statistics have shown a recent rise in the number of civil partnerships in the UK.

The provisional number of civil partnerships in the UK in 2012 was 7,037, an increase of 3.6% since 2011; 3,591 were female, 3,446 were male.

The figures for Plymouth also show a rise in the same period. There were 31 new civil partnerships - 18 were...

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Plymouth

civil partnerships

Motorcyclist killed in collision near Okehampton

A motorcyclist has been killed in a collision near Okehampton at the weekend.

Police are appealing for witnesses into the fatal collision which happened shortly after 4.20pm on Sunday 6 October on the A386 outside Lower Lodge, Merton, near Okehampton.

A 44-year-old local man, riding a Suzuki GSXR, was travelling in the direction of Torrington from Meeth with a group of other...

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BBC announces major new investment in arts programming

BBC Director-General Tony Hall will unveil ambitious plans to place arts programming back at the heart of the Corporation with new investment, a new pan-BBC arts brand and more landmark commissions and partnerships.

As part of his forthcoming speech outlining his vision for the BBC, Tony Hall will demonstrate his commitment to making the BBC the world’s best arts and music broadcaster...

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Police concerned for welfare of missing Buckfastleigh woman

Police are concerned for the welfare of Jacqueline De Young a 51-year-old woman who left her home address in Buckfastleigh, Devon during Saturday afternoon (5 October 2013). It is believed that she left in her vehicle, a black Mitsubishi Colt convertible registration WF07 VGY.

Police have described Ms De Young as a white female, five foot one inches tall, with straight shoulder length...

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"We need to finish the job we've started": Cameron makes case for a Tory majority

Prime Minister David Cameron delivered his speech to the Conservative Party conference on Wednesday (2 October) mixing passion with a degree of caution.

Speaking to the party faithful he said:

"When we came to office, we faced a clear and daunting task: to turn our country around.

"In May 2010, the needle on the gauge was at crisis point. People were talking about this...

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Government strengthens health regulator’s independence

The health regulator, the Care Quality Commission (CQC), is to be given greater independence to ensure it can act "fearlessly" as the nation’s chief whistleblower on health, Jeremy Hunt Health Secretary has announced.

Under the proposals, the Health Secretary will relinquish a range of powers to intervene in the operational decisions of the CQC. This means that the CQC will no longer...

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government

Jeremy Hunt

Care Quality Commission

new powers

health watchdog

Cameron to call for "a land of opportunity for all"

David Cameron will take to the stage today (Wednesday 2 October) to pledge to fight to make Britain "a land of opportunity for all".

In his closing speech to the Conservative Party conference in Manchester, the Prime Minister will set out an agenda which he will carry through to the next general election. He will distance his party from the Liberal Democrats and declare that the Tories...

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